After The Death Escape and Ascension, The Male Protagonist of Long Aotian Went Crazy - Chapter 7

In the original plot, the chaos in the South Sea was supposed to be resolved jointly by the male and female leads.

The system required Shi Hua to go along, replacing the vicious supporting female character and walking through the plot.

Shi Hua pondered. Her impression of Qin Xiyan was favorable—she really disliked doing harmful things.

“Junior Brother, what are your thoughts?”

Chi Qingxuan looked at the gathered disciples—all young, promising, and gifted cultivators.

His mind started to stir.

He wanted to send this new group of talented disciples out for training. But since the South Sea’s situation was unclear, someone had to lead them.

Chi Qingxuan knew she disliked leaving home, so he was planning to ask one of the other Immortal Lords.

But Wujie Immortal Lord was still in seclusion, so the choice would fall between Jin Qing and Qingxuan.

Shi Hua nodded slightly. “Letting them go isn’t impossible…”

Among them, only a handful truly had talent. Other than Wei Shizhou, who had just stepped into Foundation Establishment, the most advanced were already at the late Foundation stage, close to Core Formation. A little tempering would be good for them.

Seeing her agreement, Chi Qingxuan was delighted. “Let Xiyan, their senior sister, guide them. I’ll have Qingxuan—”

“I’ll go.”

Shi Hua interrupted.

Earlier, when Chi Qingxuan passed her a sound transmission, he had said that there was a celestial herb in the South Sea that could heal the wounds left in her body by heavenly tribulation lightning. Since it was something meant for herself, it was best she went in person, rather than troubling other Immortal Lords.

“You’ll go?” Chi Qingxuan was surprised.

Even Qin Xiyan glanced sideways.

In her impression, the Jade-Washing Immortal Lord was aloof and taciturn, disliking leaving her residence. Since entering the sect, Qin Xiyan had only seen her once.

Recalling that first meeting—the woman in azure robes, light makeup, carelessly casting her a glance.

Just that glance had made Qin Xiyan’s heart falter.

Now, after years apart, the Immortal Lord was even more beautiful.

Qin Xiyan hastily averted her eyes, lips pursing as she steadied her breath.

“Mm. I’ll go myself. With the South Sea’s unknown situation, it’s safest if I lead.”

“But your body—”

Chi Qingxuan worried about her health.

Had this been Shi Hua in her prime, he would not have objected. But now, her body was damaged. If she got hurt again, he would truly fail his master’s dying wishes.

“It’s nothing.”

Since she insisted, Chi Qingxuan no longer blocked her.

He dismissed the other disciples, leaving only Qin Xiyan behind.

“Xiyan, go find Wei Shizhou and inform him of this matter.”

Qin Xiyan nodded. “Yes, Sect Master.”

Sensing Chi Qingxuan wished to speak privately, she saluted and withdrew.

Xie An hurriedly followed suit.

The Sect Master was bound to talk about the South Sea.

Rumors said a fierce beast lurked beneath the sea, its cultivation unknown. She must not lower her guard.

Shi Hua was used to Chi Qingxuan nagging her like an old mother—every time she went on missions, he would lecture endlessly. She took it in stride.

【Immortal Lord, the male lead didn’t appear just now—the scene of the male and female leads’ first meeting wasn’t completed…】

If the task wasn’t completed, punishment would follow.

“The day isn’t over yet. Why so impatient?”

This wasn’t part of the vicious female supporting role’s plotline. Since the issue was on the male lead’s side, it was Heaven’s job to ensure they met.

Shi Hua was curious herself—if the male and female leads were supposed to fall in love at first sight, what would happen now?

Spring, the third month. Flowers in full bloom.

The gardens of Xuan Yin Sect overflowed with flowering trees, scattering petals whenever the wind blew, leaving the ground carpeted in crimson.

Wei Shizhou lounged lazily, legs crossed.

He knew today’s plotline and intentionally hid away, avoiding it. Before Chi Qingxuan could send for him, he slipped off to this secluded place.

By now, it should be over.

As long as he didn’t meet Qin Xiyan, the plot couldn’t progress—and then he wouldn’t have to go down the mountain for training.

If he did go, that vicious woman would surely cost him half his life!

“Wei-shidi.”

A gentle voice drifted in on the warm breeze.

Wei Shizhou lowered his gaze to see a woman in a blue dress standing under the tree.

She lifted her chin slightly, looking at him calmly, her eyes emotionless.

Wei Shizhou didn’t recognize her. “Who are you?”

“Disciple under Qingxuan Immortal Lord—Qin Xiyan.”

“The Sect Master sent me to find you, to tell you you’ll soon go down the mountain for training in the South Sea…”

Not far away, hidden among peach blossoms, someone was watching.

Shi Hua sighed. As expected, even when the male lead tried to avoid her, Heaven would arrange for them to meet. But how did Wei Shizhou know ahead of time that he’d encounter Qin Xiyan today?

That was what she couldn’t figure out.

【Immortal Lord! The male and female leads have met—the task is complete!】

【The male lead keeps staring at her! He must’ve fallen in love at first sight!】

Shi Hua’s mouth twitched.

She didn’t see it.

Wei Shizhou’s expression had no trace of being moved.

It looked more like he was avoiding a viper.

Shi Hua calmly watched. Just as they seemed about to leave, another figure in purple walked over.

This was another Heavenly Spiritual Root—disciple of Qingxuan Immortal Lord—named Xie Wanmian.

The system suddenly squealed: 【Immortal Lord, I forgot to mention earlier—this one is the “devoted second male lead”!】

“The devoted… second male lead?”

【Yes! In the story, after the heroine saves him multiple times at the cost of her own safety, he falls for her. But he’s tongue-tied and terrible at expressing himself, never daring to confess. He can only watch as she falls in love with the male lead.】

【Ai, that’s always the fate of second male leads—loving without return, silently sacrificing.】

Because of his personal circumstances, Xie Wanmian never dared to reveal his feelings. If he had been braver, maybe the heroine wouldn’t have ended up with the male lead. After all, at that time, she hadn’t given her heart to anyone yet.

Shi Hua raised a brow. That was just the “mute” trope straight out of storybooks.

From the looks of it, after this training trip, Xie Wanmian would grow close with the two leads.

But really—he and Qin Xiyan were fellow disciples, spending every day together, yet he still couldn’t win her heart? How cowardly could he be?

So cowardly he couldn’t even act.

“What’s his ending?”

【To save the heroine, he destroys his spiritual root, forever severing his path to immortality. In the end, he dies alone.】

Tsk, truly tragic.

Shi Hua had her own troubles; other people’s fates she could only listen to idly, maybe sigh about a little.

“Let’s go.”

She had now identified all the important figures. Next was to keep following the plot.

As long as the male lead didn’t mess things up, Shi Hua was confident she could succeed.

The South Sea stretched for thousands of miles, covering nearly half of the cultivation world.

Though an unexplored region, for millennia hardly any demon beasts had appeared there—truly odd.

For a fierce beast to surface this time was even stranger.

The group rode swords toward the South Sea.

Reaching the coastline, they switched to walking.

Shi Hua strolled leisurely in the middle.

To her left, her disciple and Wei Shizhou; to her right, Qin Xiyan and Xie Wanmian.

Wei Shizhou disliked the vicious woman, but hated even more the idea of being forced into a future Dao-companion marriage. He would resist that to the death.

Luckily, Xie Wanmian would one day fall for Qin Xiyan. Why not do a good deed and help them become a pair?

“Up ahead is a town. Take your Concealment Pills.”

To avoid alerting spies, they needed to mask their spiritual energy and disguise themselves as travelers. It would also ease the townsfolk’s guard.

The locals here lived by fishing, sometimes going to nearby towns for supplies, but mostly they spent their lives at sea.

The air carried a salty tang.

After booking rooms at an inn, night had already fallen.

Shi Hua suddenly felt uneasy. This place wasn’t normal. She warned them not to leave their rooms and to wait until night to act.

At the third watch, drums sounded in the street.

The beat rose and fell—it was like a signal.

Shi Hua quietly cracked open the window.

Through the gap, she saw a red bridal sedan being carried down the dark street. The two carriers looked terrified, glancing around. Seeing no one, they breathed in relief, hefted the sedan, and hurried across the road.

Shi Hua pushed the window open and leapt to the roof, watching the sedan fade into the distance.

“Immortal Lord.”

Qin Xiyan and the others joined her.

When they had checked into the inn earlier, Shi Hua had warned them about the food. Sure enough, it had been laced with sedatives.

The townsfolk had devised the cruel practice of feeding people to the sea. Whenever outsiders came, they drugged them into sleeping the whole night.

So that, come morning, no one would know what had happened.

Shi Hua stepped onto her sword. “Follow.”

“Yes!”

At the shore, the carriers dropped the sedan and fled.

In the damp, chilling air, a girl’s sobbing was painfully clear.

The broken cries stopped and started, hoarse from weeping too long.

The South Sea was still, the surface reflecting the moonlight. Tides rose and fell in eerie silence.

“Let me out… I want to go home…”

The girl was terrified. The silence around her made even the sound of water terrifying.

The rustling of wind, the splashing of waves—every sound felt like an invisible hand gripping her heart.

The salty sea breeze invaded her nose.

Her breathing grew ragged.

Tears blurred her eyes. She clutched her chest, covering her mouth, not daring to sob aloud.

At that moment, the sea suddenly surged, waves towering. Beneath them, a whirlpool opened, sucking in the surrounding waters.

The bridal sedan was lifted, dragged into the whirlpool.

Everything spun violently—the girl struck her head against the sedan, letting out a sharp cry.

“Ah!”

The crashing wave slammed down, and the sedan vanished beneath the sea.

The waves began to subside.

Several sword-lights plunged swiftly downward.

But the raging waters seemed to sense intruders. The sea reared again, trapping them in its currents.

Shi Hua halted, her gaze cold.

Mere waves.

Her hands wove seals. The sword beneath her feet flew out, enlarging behind her until it was as vast as the crashing seas.

Her face remained calm as she chanted lowly: “Seal—”

In an instant, frost spread outward. The sea froze visibly, and in moments the towering waves had turned into a wall of ice.

Even the whirlpool was locked in place, a gaping black maw.

Wei Shizhou and the others stared in shock.

So this… was the strongest combat power in the immortal world?

If the legends of a single sword severing cliffs and sealing demons were true, what kind of awe-inspiring sight must that have been?

They could not even imagine.

The wind howled across the sea.

Shi Hua’s azure robe whipped fiercely, her loose hair framing her composed face.

“I’ll watch from the shadows. You all go down.”

The trial had officially begun.

Qin Xiyan was the first to respond, diving into the whirlpool on her sword.

Once everyone had gone in, Shi Hua’s brows knit slightly. Behind her back, her right hand trembled faintly.

【Immortal Lord, you shouldn’t have frozen the South Sea.】

With such a vast body of water, the freezing must have drained tremendous spiritual power. With her damaged body, how could she endure?

Shi Hua sneered. “You underestimate me.”

The title of Jade-Washing Immortal Lord was no empty name.

Even with her body damaged, though she could never regain her peak, freezing the South Sea was nothing.

She leapt into the whirlpool.

Though she froze the surface, the depths below still churned violently.

Crack! Zzzt!

The sound of electricity sparked suddenly.

Dim flashes of lightning flickered in the waters.

Shi Hua had already entered the sea. With water conducting lightning so swiftly, it was impossible to guard against.

The moment the current struck her body—

Something flashed in her mind.

“Hua’er, a cultivator must learn to control her emotions. Do not let them control you.”

“This temper of yours… it hasn’t changed a bit. Luckily, your junior brother watches over you. That eases my heart.”

“Shi Hua! You must ascend! Your master asks for nothing else… you must ascend!!”

A woman’s anguished roar echoed in her mind.

Shi Hua’s eyes flickered with confusion.

That was… what?